Facebook: Friend or Foe?

“Like” it or not, this social network thing is here to stay. In fact,
chances are that you are one of the 500 million people who troll the pages
of Facebook on a regular basis. And your kids, neighbors, and co-workers are
probably uploading their photos, poking someone or updating their status
even as you read this.

For some people, this interaction with hundreds of
friends enriches their life, helps them feel connected with loved ones and
keeps them in touch with events from Libya to London.

Parents and spouses in my clinical practice complain that their child or
partner spends “hours” on FB, and that this reduces communication between
people who live under the same roof. Other folks have found ways to
integrate this electronic presence in their life.

See
this interesting study that shows that more than 60
percent of people surveyed are Facebook friends with their children or their
parents. In other words, many of us are using FB to stay close to our family
members.

Other suggestions that I discuss with parents are:

Wait until the child is at least 13 before allowing them to set up a
FB account. Even then, discuss with your child whether s/he is ready for
FB in terms of their maturity.